LSA Code of Conduct for Events

Introduction

The LSA annual meetings, Linguistic Institutes, and other LSA-sponsored events are convened for the purposes of professional, scholarly and educational interchange and development in the spirit of free inquiry and free expression. Consequently, all forms of uncollegiality and harassment are considered by the LSA to be serious forms of professional misconduct.

This Code of Conduct is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all its participants. It describes expected behavior and outlines ways in which event organizers will address problems that arise. It reminds LSA participants (including conference reviewers) that a high level of professional ethics and norms is expected as standards of behavior and interaction at these events, standards which include but are not limited to those outlined below.

The LSA, like many professional scholarly organizations, requires participants to agree to a Code of Conduct to ensure we are able to offer inclusive and welcoming environments. Members of the LSA have reported issues such as those covered by this Code of Conduct for several decades. Therefore, this policy is intended to be responsive to those complaints and address similar issues that may arise at future LSA events.

Unprofessional behavior

All participants in LSA events must maintain professional integrity in their relationships and interactions with one another. Harassment and discrimination are specifically prohibited. “Participant” in this policy refers to anyone attending the event (in in-person, hybrid, or online iterations) or present at the event, including staff, contractors, and vendors. Harassment includes, but is not limited to:

  • Prejudicial actions or communication (actions or language) related to a person’s identity or group membership that coerce others, foment broad hostility, or otherwise undermine professional equity or the principles of free academic exchange. Relevant identities include (but are not limited to) those defined by age, career or employment status, disability, ethnicity, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status.
  • Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following.
  • Harassing photography or recording.
  • Sustained disruption of talks or other events.
  • Inappropriate physical contact.
  • Unwelcome sexual attention.
  • Advocating for, encouraging, or condoning any of the above behavior.

The expression or the critique of a contested academic or professional viewpoint does not in itself constitute harassment, as long as it is done in a professional and respectful way. By contrast, aggressive discussion styles (including ad hominem comments) that are aimed to intimidate, marginalize, belittle, or disparage others (or their research area) are unacceptable.

Inclusive behavior

LSA events aim to create a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for all participants. Every participant is welcome and respected. By the same token, all participants are expected to treat each other with respect and tolerance. To accomplish this, participants are asked to speak up and take action when these values are not adhered to, and recognize that power differences and hierarchies inherent to academia and broader society may inhibit some participants (including students and junior scholars) from deciding to object to or report problematic behavior (details on reporting below). In addition, linguists working in non-academic (industry, government, professional or community) settings may feel that they are treated as second-class citizens. Inclusion means treating all participants with respect, as equally valuable contributors to the field.

The LSA encourages its event participants to proactively engage in inclusive behavior, e.g.:

  • Acknowledge the opinions, skills, and contributions of others.
  • Discuss any sensitive material in a respectful way where the material is adequately contextualized in line with academic inquiry and professional practice.
  • Give feedback to others in a professional and respectful manner.
  • Refrain from disruptive or monopolizing behavior, especially during talks and question periods.
  • Advocate for others when they are unable to advocate for themselves, or in instances of prejudice or discrimination, without taking over or deciding what is best for others.
  • Provide encouragement, help, support, or mentorship to colleagues when it is welcomed.

Reporting

Harassment and other violations of this code reduce the value of our events for everyone. If someone makes you or anyone else feel unsafe or unwelcome, or if you witness unacceptable behavior, please report it to the event organizers as soon as possible.

You can report a violation:

  • In person to an organizer
  • In an email to the LSA Executive Director (mvitullo@lsadc.org)
  • In an anonymous form


LSA event organizers will do their best to address your report with as much confidentiality as the enforcement process allows. Depending on the nature of the violation, in some jurisdictions organizers may also be required by law and/or university policy to inform authorities. For example, some U.S. universities require faculty to report all instances of sexual harassment to university officials regardless of whether the target consents to the reporting.

Enforcement

LSA event organizers are committed to taking appropriate actions to prevent and/or stop any behavior designed to, or with the clear impact of, disrupting the event or making the environment hostile for any participants.

Participants who are reasonably and politely asked to comply with this code should do so immediately. Failure to do so could result in the filing of a violation report (see above).

If a participant has a report filed against them, the event organizers will review the report and may contact the participant so they can consider their version of the incident. The organizers may also consult with the person who filed the report or other people involved in or with knowledge of the incident.

The organizers will decide, as quickly as possible, the extent to which the behavior reported constitutes a violation of the Code of Conduct or a violation of the law. If the target consents, the organizers may choose to respond to the behavior reported.

Possible responses include:

  • No response (if the behavior is found to not constitute a violation)
  • A warning to the participant that their behavior constitutes a minor violation, but that continued behavior would constitute a major violation
  • Expulsion from the event and a report of the incident to the following year’s organizers (if the behavior is found to constitute a major violation)
  • Behavior that may constitute a violation of the law will be reported to law enforcement

Severability

If any part of this Code of Conduct is in conflict with the applicable law in the jurisdiction of the conference, this shall not affect the validity of any other part.

Ombuds

The LSA provides an ombuds service for its members for confidential consultation, either before or after filing a complaint regarding conduct at an LSA event, to address any concerns and to assist with problem-solving. For more information, please contact the LSA Executive Director at mvitullo@lsadc.org.



Adopted by the LSA Executive Committee, September 10, 2023. This policy is based upon the prior work of the Committee on Gender Equity in Linguistics (COGEL) and the committee's Resources on Equity and Inclusivity in Linguistics (REIL).